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Collins BTO Guide to Rare British Birds

Description

This book is the companion volume to the Collins BTO Guide to British Birds. It covers all the rare and scarce birds that have occurred in Britain and Ireland five times or more, as of February 2015. ‘The Rarest of the Rare’ section lists all the species that have occurred fewer than five times; taken in combination, this means that every species of wild bird that has ever occurred in Britain is mentioned. Species descriptions comprise the bulk of the book, and the text and photographs describe and illustrate the key features needed to identify these birds with confidence. Confusion species are included, as are vocalisation details for species whose identification it aids. The photographs have been chosen carefully to show key features that are described in the accompanying text; they also give clues to the usual habitat favoured by the bird and its typical posture. Many of the photographs are seen here for the first time. ‘ID Key Feature’ pages provide a quick guide to a group of species or families; they describe the structural and behavioural features that an observer should concentrate on initially when they come across an unfamiliar bird. Where relevant, these feature pages also highlight identification pitfalls. Unlike its companion volume, distribution maps are not included, as they are of little relevance when dealing with rare and scarce birds in Britain and Ireland: by their very nature, vagrant birds can turn up almost anywhere. However, where a part of Britain or Ireland is noteworthy for the occurrence of a given species, then the region in question is mentioned in the text.

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This unique new identification guide features all of the birds that have occurred five or more times in Britain and Ireland, including all species that breed regularly in the region, plus those that winter here, or occur as common passage migrants. The book has been written and illustrated as much with the beginner in mind as the experienced birdwatcher. Designed to be used in the field, the text and photographs describe and illustrate the key features needed to identify a species with confidence, and to separate it from similar, or ‘confusion’, species.

Collins Bird Guide has already become established as the most essential reference to British and European bird identification. This new edition has been fully revised, the main accounts contain 41 new species and many subspecies receive new or more extensive coverage, there are 14 new double page spreads and some 60 plates redesigned or repainted. All the maps have been revised.

An essential field guide companion covering difficult identification issues by looking at tricky species pairs or groups of birds and comparing and contrasting their respective features. Designed as a field companion, it supplements the standard field guides and provides much additional information.